[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H3367-H3373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVATION ACT OF 2015
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 1561) to improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's weather research through a focused program of
investment on affordable and attainable advances in observational,
computing, and modeling capabilities to support substantial improvement
in weather forecasting and prediction of high impact weather events, to
expand commercial opportunities for the provision of weather data, and
for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1561
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015''.
SEC. 2. PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITY.
In accordance with NOAA's critical mission to provide
science, service, and stewardship, the Under Secretary shall
prioritize weather research, across all weather programs, to
improve weather data, forecasts, and warnings for the
protection of life and property and the enhancement of the
national economy.
SEC. 3. WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVATION.
(a) Program.--The Assistant Administrator for OAR shall
conduct a program to develop improved understanding of and
forecast capabilities for atmospheric events and their
impacts, placing priority on developing more accurate,
timely, and effective warnings and fore-casts of high impact
weather events that endanger life and property.
(b) Program Elements.--The program described in subsection
(a) shall focus on the following activities:
(1) Improving the fundamental understanding of weather
consistent with section
[[Page H3368]]
2, including the boundary layer and other atmospheric
processes affecting high impact weather events.
(2) Improving the understanding of how the public receives,
interprets, and responds to warnings and forecasts of high
impact weather events that endanger life and property.
(3) Research and development, and transfer of knowledge,
technologies, and applications to the NWS and other
appropriate agencies and entities, including the American
weather industry and academic partners, related to--
(A) advanced radar, radar networking technologies, and
other ground-based technologies, including those emphasizing
rapid, fine-scale sensing of the boundary layer and lower
troposphere, and the use of innovative, dual-polarization,
phased array technologies;
(B) aerial weather observing systems;
(C) high performance computing and information technology
and wireless communication networks;
(D) advanced numerical weather prediction systems and
forecasting tools and techniques that improve the forecasting
of timing, track, intensity, and severity of high impact
weather, including through--
(i) the development of more effective mesoscale models;
(ii) more effective use of existing, and the development of
new, regional and national cloud-resolving models;
(iii) enhanced global weather models; and
(iv) integrated assessment models;
(E) quantitative assessment tools for measuring the impact
and value of data and observing systems, including OSSEs (as
described in section 8), OSEs, and AOAs;
(F) atmospheric chemistry and interactions essential to
accurately characterizing atmospheric composition and
predicting meteorological processes, including cloud
microphysical, precipitation, and atmospheric electrification
processes, to more effectively understand their role in
severe weather; and
(G) additional sources of weather data and information,
including commercial observing systems.
(4) A technology transfer initiative, carried out jointly
and in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for NWS,
and in cooperation with the American weather industry and
academic partners, to ensure continuous development and
transition of the latest scientific and technological
advances into NWS operations and to establish a process to
sunset outdated and expensive operational methods and tools
to enable cost-effective transfer of new methods and tools
into operations.
(c) Extramural Research.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the program under this
section, the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall
collaborate with and support the non-Federal weather research
community, which includes institutions of higher education,
private entities, and nongovernmental organizations, by
making funds available through competitive grants, contracts,
and cooperative agreements.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
not less than 30 percent of the funds for weather research
and development at OAR should be made available for the
purpose described in paragraph (1).
(d) Report.--The Under Secretary shall transmit to Congress
annually, concurrently with NOAA's budget request, a
description of current and planned activities under this
section.
SEC. 4. TORNADO WARNING IMPROVEMENT AND EXTENSION PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with
the American weather industry and academic partners, shall
establish a tornado warning improvement and extension
program.
(b) Goal.--The goal of such program shall be to reduce the
loss of life and economic losses from tornadoes through the
development and extension of accurate, effective, and timely
tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings, including the
prediction of tornadoes beyond one hour in advance.
(c) Program Plan.--Not later than 6 months after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for
OAR, in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for
NWS, shall develop a program plan that details the specific
research, development, and technology transfer activities, as
well as corresponding resources and timelines, necessary to
achieve the program goal.
(d) Budget for Plan.--Following completion of the plan, the
Under Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator
for OAR, in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for
NWS, shall transmit annually to Congress a proposed budget
corresponding to the activities identified in the plan.
SEC. 5. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with
the American weather industry and academic partners, shall
maintain the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program (HFIP).
(b) Goal.--The goal of such program shall be to develop and
extend accurate hurricane forecasts and warnings in order to
reduce loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy.
(c) Program Plan.--Not later than 6 months after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for
OAR, in consultation with the Assistant Administrator for
NWS, shall develop a program plan that details the specific
research, development, and technology transfer activities, as
well as corresponding resources and timelines, necessary to
achieve the program goal.
(d) Budget for Plan.--Following completion of the plan, the
Under Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator
for OAR, in consultation with the Assistant Administrator for
NWS, shall transmit annually to Congress a proposed budget
corresponding to the activities identified in the plan.
SEC. 6. WEATHER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING.
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this
Act, and annually thereafter, the Under Secretary, acting
through the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in coordination
with the Assistant Administrators for NWS and NESDIS, shall
issue a research and development and research to operations
plan to restore and maintain United States leadership in
numerical weather prediction and forecasting that--
(1) describes the forecasting skill and technology goals,
objectives, and progress of NOAA in carrying out the program
conducted under section 3;
(2) identifies and prioritizes specific research and
development activities, and performance metrics, weighted to
meet the operational weather mission of NWS to achieve a
weather-ready Nation;
(3) describes how the program will collaborate with
stakeholders, including the American weather industry and
academic partners; and
(4) identifies, through consultation with the National
Science Foundation, American weather industry, and academic
partners, research necessary to enhance the integration of
social science knowledge into weather forecast and warning
processes, including to improve the communication of threat
information necessary to enable improved severe weather
planning and decisionmaking on the part of individuals and
communities.
SEC. 7. OBSERVING SYSTEM PLANNING.
The Under Secretary shall--
(1) develop and maintain a prioritized list of observation
data requirements necessary to ensure weather forecasting
capabilities to protect life and property to the maximum
extent practicable;
(2) undertake, using OSSEs, OSEs, AOAs, and other
appropriate assessment tools, ongoing systematic evaluations
of the combination of observing systems, data, and
information needed to meet the requirements listed under
paragraph (1), assessing various options to maximize
observational capabilities and their cost-effectiveness;
(3) identify current and potential future data gaps in
observing capabilities related to the requirements listed
under paragraph (1); and
(4) determine a range of options to address gaps identified
under paragraph (3).
SEC. 8. OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS.
(a) In General.--In support of the requirements of section
7, the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall undertake OSSEs
to quantitatively assess the relative value and benefits of
observing capabilities and systems. Technical and scientific
OSSE evaluations--
(1) may include assessments of the impact of observing
capabilities on--
(A) global weather prediction;
(B) hurricane track and intensity forecasting;
(C) tornado warning lead times and accuracy;
(D) prediction of mid-latitude severe local storm
outbreaks; and
(E) prediction of storms that have the potential to cause
extreme precipitation and flooding lasting from 6 hours to 1
week; and
(2) shall be conducted in cooperation with other
appropriate entities within NOAA, other Federal agencies, the
American weather industry, and academic partners to ensure
the technical and scientific merit of OSSE results.
(b) Requirements.--OSSEs shall quantitatively--
(1) determine the potential impact of proposed space-based,
suborbital, and in situ observing systems on analyses and
forecasts, including potential impacts on extreme weather
events across all parts of the Nation;
(2) evaluate and compare observing system design options;
and
(3) assess the relative capabilities and costs of various
observing systems and combinations of observing systems in
providing data necessary to protect life and property.
(c) Implementation.--OSSEs--
(1) shall be conducted prior to the acquisition of major
Government-owned or Government-leased operational observing
systems, including polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite
systems, with a lifecycle cost of more than $500,000,000; and
(2) shall be conducted prior to the purchase of any major
new commercially provided data with a lifecycle cost of more
than $500,000,000.
(d) Priority OSSEs.--
(1) Global navigation satellite system radio occultation.--
Not later than December 31, 2015, the Assistant Administrator
for OAR shall complete an OSSE to assess the value of data
from Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation.
(2) Geostationary hyperspectral sounder global
constellation.--Not later than
[[Page H3369]]
December 31, 2016, the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall
complete an OSSE to assess the value of data from a
geostationary hyperspectral sounder global constellation.
(e) Results.--Upon completion of all OSSEs, results shall
be publicly released and accompanied by an assessment of
related private and public sector weather data sourcing
options, including their availability, affordability, and
cost effectiveness. Such assessments shall be developed in
accordance with section 50503 of title 51, United States
Code.
SEC. 9. COMPUTING RESOURCES PRIORITIZATION REPORT.
Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, and annually thereafter, the Under Secretary,
acting through the NOAA Chief Information Officer, in
coordination with the Assistant Administrator for OAR and the
Assistant Administrator for NWS, shall produce and make
publicly available a report that explains how NOAA intends
to--
(1) continually support upgrades to pursue the fastest,
most powerful, and cost effective high performance computing
technologies in support of its weather prediction mission;
(2) ensure a balance between the research to operations
requirements to develop the next generation of regional and
global models as well as highly reliable operational models;
(3) take advantage of advanced development concepts to, as
appropriate, make next generation weather prediction models
available in beta-test mode to operational forecasters, the
American weather industry, and partners in academic and
government research; and
(4) use existing computing resources to improve advanced
research and operational weather prediction.
SEC. 10. COMMERCIAL WEATHER DATA.
(a) Amendment.--Section 60161 of title 51, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``This
prohibition shall not extend to--
``(1) the purchase of weather data through contracts with
commercial providers; or
``(2) the placement of weather satellite instruments on
cohosted government or private payloads.''.
(b) Strategy.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in
consultation with the Under Secretary, shall transmit to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a strategy to enable the
procurement of quality commercial weather data. The strategy
shall assess the range of commercial opportunities, including
public-private partnerships, for obtaining surface-based,
aviation-based, and space-based weather observations. The
strategy shall include the expected cost effectiveness of
these opportunities as well as provide a plan for procuring
data, including an expected implementation timeline, from
these nongovernmental sources, as appropriate.
(2) Requirements.--The strategy shall include--
(A) an analysis of financial or other benefits to, and
risks associated with, acquiring commercial weather data or
services, including through multiyear acquisition approaches;
(B) an identification of methods to address planning,
programming, budgeting, and execution challenges to such
approaches, including--
(i) how standards will be set to ensure that data is
reliable and effective;
(ii) how data may be acquired through commercial
experimental or innovative techniques and then evaluated for
integration into operational use;
(iii) how to guarantee public access to all forecast-
critical data to ensure that the American weather industry
and the public continue to have access to information
critical to their work; and
(iv) in accordance with section 50503 of title 51, United
States Code, methods to address potential termination
liability or cancellation costs associated with weather data
or service contracts; and
(C) an identification of any changes needed in the
requirements development and approval processes of the
Department of Commerce to facilitate effective and efficient
implementation of such strategy.
(3) Authority for agreements.--The Assistant Administrator
for NESDIS may enter into multiyear agreements necessary to
carry out the strategy developed under this subsection.
(c) Pilot Program.--
(1) Criteria.--Not later than December 31, 2015, NOAA shall
publish data standards and specifications for space-based
commercial weather data.
(2) Pilot contract.--
(A) Contract.--Not later than October 1, 2016, NOAA shall,
through an open competition, enter into at least one pilot
contract with a private sector entity capable of providing
data that meet the standards and specifications set by NOAA
to provide commercial weather data in a manner that allows
NOAA to calibrate and evaluate the data.
(B) Assessment of data viability.--Not later than October
1, 2019, NOAA shall transmit to Congress the results of a
determination of the extent to which data provided under the
contract entered into under subparagraph (A) meet the
criteria published under paragraph (1).
(3) Obtaining future data.--NOAA shall, to the extent
feasible, obtain commercial weather data from private sector
providers.
(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated out of funds made available for
procurement, acquisition, and construction at NESDIS,
$9,000,000 for carrying out this subsection.
SEC. 11. ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SERVICES WORKING GROUP.
(a) Establishment.--The NOAA Science Advisory Board shall
continue to maintain a standing working group named the
Environmental Information Services Working Group (in this
section referred to as the ``Working Group'') to--
(1) provide advice for prioritizing weather research
initiatives at NOAA to produce real improvement in weather
forecasting;
(2) provide advice on existing or emerging technologies or
techniques that can be found in private industry or the
research community that could be incorporated into
forecasting at NWS to improve forecasting skill;
(3) identify opportunities to improve communications
between weather forecasters, Federal, State, local, tribal,
and other emergency management personnel, and the public; and
to improve communications and partnerships among NOAA and the
private and academic sectors; and
(4) address such other matters as the Science Advisory
Board requests of the Working Group.
(b) Composition.--
(1) In general.--The Working Group shall be composed of
leading experts and innovators from all relevant fields of
science and engineering including atmospheric chemistry,
atmospheric physics, meteorology, hydrology, social science,
risk communications, electrical engineering, and computer
sciences. In carrying out this section, the Working Group may
organize into subpanels.
(2) Number.--The Working Group shall be composed of no
fewer than 15 members. Nominees for the Working Group may be
forwarded by the Working Group for approval by the Science
Advisory Board. Members of the Working Group may choose a
chair (or co-chairs) from among their number with approval by
the Science Advisory Board.
(c) Annual Report.--The Working Group shall transmit
annually to the Science Advisory Board for submission to the
Under Secretary a report on progress made by NOAA in adopting
the Working Group's recommendations. The Science Advisory
Board shall transmit this report to the Under Secretary.
Within 30 days of receipt of such report, the Under Secretary
shall transmit it to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
SEC. 12. INTERAGENCY WEATHER RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
COORDINATION.
(a) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy shall establish an Inter-agency
Committee for Advancing Weather Services to improve
coordination of relevant weather research and forecast
innovation activities across the Federal Government. The
Interagency Committee shall--
(1) include participation by the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration,
NOAA and its constituent elements, the National Science
Foundation, and such other agencies involved in weather
forecasting research as the President determines are
appropriate;
(2) identify and prioritize top forecast needs and
coordinate those needs against budget requests and program
initiatives across participating offices and agencies; and
(3) share information regarding operational needs and
forecasting improvements across relevant agencies.
(b) Co-chair.--The Federal Coordinator for Meteorology
shall serve as a co-chair of this panel.
(c) Further Coordination.--The Director shall take such
other steps as are necessary to coordinate the activities of
the Federal Government with those of the American weather
industry, State governments, emergency managers, and academic
researchers.
SEC. 13. OAR AND NWS EXCHANGE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Assistant Administrator for OAR and
the Assistant Administrator for NWS may establish a program
to detail OAR personnel to the NWS and NWS personnel to OAR.
(b) Goal.--The goal of this program is to enhance
forecasting innovation through regular, direct interaction
between OAR's world-class scientists and NWS's operational
staff.
(c) Elements.--The program shall allow up to 10 OAR staff
and NWS staff to spend up to 1 year on detail. Candidates
shall be jointly selected by the Assistant Administrator for
OAR and the Assistant Administrator for NWS.
(d) Report.--The Under Secretary shall report annually to
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House
of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate on participation in such
program and shall highlight any innovations that come from
this interaction.
SEC. 14. VISITING FELLOWS AT NWS.
(a) In General.--The Assistant Administrator for NWS may
establish a program to host postdoctoral fellows and academic
researchers at any of the National Centers for Environmental
Prediction.
[[Page H3370]]
(b) Goal.--This program shall be designed to provide direct
interaction between forecasters and talented academic and
private sector researchers in an effort to bring innovation
to forecasting tools and techniques available to the NWS.
(c) Selection and Appointment.--Such fellows shall be
competitively selected and appointed for a term not to exceed
1 year.
SEC. 15. NOAA WEATHER READY ALL HAZARDS AWARD PROGRAM.
(a) Program.--The Assistant Administrator for NWS is
authorized to establish the NOAA Weather Ready All Hazards
Award Program. This award program shall provide annual awards
to honor individuals or organizations that use or provide
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receivers or transmitters to
save lives and protect property. Individuals or organizations
that utilize other early warning tools or applications also
qualify for this award.
(b) Goal.--This award program draws attention to the life-
saving work of the NOAA Weather Ready All Hazards Program, as
well as emerging tools and applications, that provide real-
time warning to individuals and communities of severe weather
or other hazardous conditions.
(c) Program Elements.--
(1) Nominations.--Nominations for this award shall be made
annually by the Weather Field Offices to the Assistant
Administrator for NWS. Broadcast meteorologists, weather
radio manufacturers and weather warning tool and application
developers, emergency managers and public safety officials
may nominate individuals and/or organizations to their local
Weather Field Offices, but the final list of award nominees
must come from the Weather Field Offices.
(2) Selection of awardees.--Annually, the Assistant
Administrator for NWS shall choose winners of this award
whose timely actions, based on NOAA weather radio all hazards
receivers or transmitters or other early warning tools and
applications, saved lives and/or property or demonstrated
public service in support of weather or all hazard warnings.
(3) Award ceremony.--The Assistant Administrator for NWS
shall establish a means of making these awards to provide
maximum public awareness of the importance of NOAA Weather
Radio, and such other warning tools and applications as are
represented in the awards.
SEC. 16. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) AOA.--The term ``AOA'' means an Analysis of
Alternatives.
(2) NESDIS.--The term ``NESDIS'' means the National
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service.
(3) NOAA.--The term ``NOAA'' means the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
(4) NWS.--The term ``NWS'' means the National Weather
Service.
(5) OAR.--The term ``OAR'' means the Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research.
(6) OSE.--The term ``OSE'' means an Observing System
Experiment.
(7) OSSE.--The term ``OSSE'' means an Observing System
Simulation Experiment.
(8) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means
the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
SEC. 17. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Fiscal Year 2015.--There are authorized to be
appropriated for fiscal year 2015--
(1) $90,800,000 to OAR to carry out this Act, of which--
(A) $70,000,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and
cooperative institutes; and
(B) $20,800,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry
research programs; and
(2) out of funds made available for research and
development at NOAA, an additional amount of $16,000,000 for
OAR to carry out the joint technology transfer initiative
described in section 3(b)(4).
(b) Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017.--For each of fiscal years
2016 and 2017, there are authorized to be appropriated to
OAR--
(1) $100,000,000 to carry out this Act, of which--
(A) $80,000,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and
cooperative institutes; and
(B) $20,000,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry
research programs; and
(2) an additional amount of $20,000,000 for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section 3(b)(4).
(c) Limitation.--No additional funds are authorized to
carry out this Act, and the amendments made by this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Smith) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. SMITH of Texas. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include
extraneous material on H.R. 1561, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas), who is the vice chairman of the
Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and the sponsor of this
legislation.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas,
Chairman Smith, for his continued leadership on the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology.
H.R. 1561, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of
2015, prioritizes the protection of life and property at the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by focusing research and
computing resources on improving weather forecasting, quantitative
observing data planning, Next Generation modeling, and an emphasis on
research to operations technology transfer.
I echo Chairman Smith's concerns that severe weather greatly affects
large parts of the country, and as a Representative from Oklahoma, I
understand the need for improvement firsthand. In 2013, the deadly
storms in my home State were a stark reminder that we can do better to
predict severe weather events and provide longer lead times to protect
Americans in harm's way.
I am proud that this legislation has a dedicated tornado warning
improvement Program. The goal of this program is to reduce the loss
from tornadoes by advancing the understanding of fundamental
meteorological science, allowing detection and notifications that are
more accurate, effective, and timely.
Constituents in my home State will benefit greatly from longer
tornado warning lead times, which will save lives and better protect
property. H.R. 1561 makes clear that NOAA will prioritize weather
research and protect lives and property through a focused, affordable,
attainable, and forward-looking research plan at the agency's research
office.
This bill also helps encourage innovation and new capacities
developed through NOAA's Weather Research Program, like creating a
joint technology transfer from the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research. This transfer is essential to get new forecasting models and
technologies out of the research side of NOAA and into our operational
forecast.
This bill directs NOAA to develop plans to restore our country's
leadership in weather forecasting. It is no secret that many people in
our weather community are distraught that our forecasting capacities
have deteriorated in recent years. While other countries are making
great strides in weather advancements, Americans are paying the price
for lost leadership with their lives and their wallets. This is another
reminder that we can do better.
This bill prompts NOAA to actively consider new commercial data and
private sector solutions to further enhance our weather forecasting
capacities. This legislation includes a pilot program which will
provide NOAA a clear and credible demonstration of the valuable data
from commercial technologies available today.
This legislation is substantially similar to last year's bipartisan
Weather Forecasting Improvement Act, which passed the House by a voice
vote. The bill before us today updates authorization numbers to reflect
current spending levels, adjusts dates to reflect current operating
status, and incorporates minor additions and technical changes to
improve the bill's clarity and intent.
This legislation is the result of a bipartisan agreement last year
and again this year. I want to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr.
Bridenstine), the Subcommittee on Environment chairman, for his active
leadership on this issue in the last Congress and for getting us here
today.
I also want to thank the ranking member of the Subcommittee on
Environment, the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici), for her
efforts in crafting a bipartisan agreement and joining in this most
worthwhile initiative to save American lives and property through
better weather forecasting.
Finally, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act has
received numerous letters of support which I would like to mention,
including letters from Utah State University, Space Environment
Technologies, Metro Weather, Utah Science Technology and Research
Initiative.
[[Page H3371]]
Once again, it is a good bill. It has been worked on diligently. We
need to pass it.
Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 1561, the Weather Research and Forecasting
Innovation Act of 2015. This bill, introduced by my friend, Mr. Lucas,
builds on the work that subcommittee chairman Mr. Bridenstine and
former subcommittee chairman Mr. Stewart and I did in the last
Congress.
The language before us today is the result of a truly bipartisan
effort with extensive discussions and negotiations across the aisle.
Although the bill is not perfect, it is a good bill and a better bill
than the one that passed in the last Congress, and I ask all my
colleagues to support it.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has many
important tasks at the cutting edge of science and service. The
agency's responsibilities for weather forecasting are critical to our
country.
We are proud of the good work of NOAA and its dedicated employees.
They are a committed workforce, responsible for keeping our communities
safe during inclement weather.
But with the increasing frequency of severe weather events, there can
and should be improvements in weather forecasting. For example,
forecasts can be more precise regarding what will happen and when.
Forecasts can provide more lead time, especially of severe weather
events, to allow people to prepare. Forecast information can be
communicated more effectively to the public and those in harm's way so
we can reduce the loss of life and property.
This bill is designed to make sure that NOAA achieves these important
goals. H.R. 1561 draws upon the model of innovation used by the
military services where researchers work hand in hand with those on the
front lines to develop innovations that have real-world practical
returns.
The bill connects the research side of NOAA, the Office of Oceanic
and Atmospheric Research, more effectively with the forecasting needs
of the National Weather Service. The bill contains several provisions
that will improve interactions and information sharing between OAR and
NWS. It also establishes new ways for NOAA to hear from and work with
the broader research and private weather communities.
NOAA is not the only agency that researches weather or has
responsibility for communicating forecast information, so the bill
establishes interagency coordination, through the Office of Science and
Technology Policy, across the agencies that have these
responsibilities. This coordination will leverage our limited resources
and more rapidly spread the adoption of best tools and practices across
agencies.
H.R. 1561 recognizes that the best forecasts in the world will not
fully serve the public's needs unless we have an effective
communications system. The bill directs NOAA to do more research,
listen to experts, and improve its risk communication techniques. The
bill also reestablishes a program that allows NOAA to make awards to
people who save the lives of others through reliance on NOAA's Weather
Radio All Hazards program.
This bill also establishes a pilot program at NOAA to look to the
commercial sector for weather forecasting data. This is an overdue
effort to ensure that Federal dollars are spent effectively and
leveraged appropriately.
Additionally, the bill requires NOAA to run simulations of the effect
of different configurations of instruments and datasets on forecasting
accuracy so the agency can look at the benefits and costs of different
arrays of sensors. It is important to make sure that these requirements
are not too prescriptive so that NOAA is able to use the most
efficient, accurate, and cost-effective model for the situation. I will
continue to work with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle on
how we can make these provisions work well.
In summary, the changes in this bill will bring about advances that
result in better development and deployment of forecast innovations and
technology. Importantly, most of these changes are coming at little or
no cost. The bill is focused on changes to internal processes rather
than simply spending more money. To the degree that the bill does
expand the agency's authorization for weather research, it is done in
line with anticipated needs in this area.
Again, I want to thank the Members on both sides of the aisle for
their input and support. I am particularly grateful to Ms. Johnson for
her support during negotiations as well as Mr. Lucas and Mr.
Bridenstine. Also, I want to thank the hard-working staff on both sides
of the aisle for their efforts to keep coming back to the table and
helping to move this forward.
Mr. Chairman, we also received many letters of support for H.R. 1561
from more than 20 different organizations, including the Weather
Coalition; the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, which
represents more than 100 research institutions; the Global Weather
Corporation; the American Weather and Climate Industry Association; the
American Commercial Space Weather Association; and many others.
Additionally, we received letters of support from a number of
individuals who serve on the Environmental Information Services Working
Group, which is one of NOAA's scientific advisory bodies.
Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to support this bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank the
gentlewoman from Oregon for her work on this bill. She has been a
strong advocate and an initiator on the benefits that this bill does
promote.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Oklahoma (Mr. Bridenstine), the chairman of the Subcommittee on
Environment of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Mr. BRIDENSTINE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to just echo the comments
of my colleague from Oklahoma, the vice chairman of the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology, Mr. Lucas, and of course the ranking
member, Ms. Bonamici. I think your summation of this bill is right on
target.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to attest that H.R. 1561, the Weather
Research and Forecasting Innovation Act, is the very first step in what
will lead us to a day when we have zero deaths from tornadoes. I want
to repeat that. This is the very first step of what is necessary to
move us to a day where we have zero deaths from tornadoes. Those of us
from the great State of Oklahoma understand this all too well.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to first thank Chairman Smith, Vice
Chairman Lucas, and the Subcommittee on Environment Ranking Member
Bonamici for their tireless efforts to see this bipartisan legislation
move forward.
The burgeoning commercial private sector for space-based weather data
and aviation-based weather data has voiced its support for this
legislation. I would like to mention letters to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology from PlanetiQ, Tempus Global Data,
Panasonic Avionics Corporation, GeoOptics, and Spire Global.
H.R. 1561 builds on the foundation laid by my House-passed Weather
Forecasting Improvement Act from last Congress and directs NOAA to
prioritize activities that will save lives and protect property. This
is critically important to my State, which is in the heart of Tornado
Alley.
In fact, I just went home for the weekend. Saturday night, about
midnight, all of the tornado sirens started going off. My wife and I
got up. We got our kids out of bed. We brought them downstairs. We set
up their beds in my closet. My wife and I turned on the TV, and we
surfed the Internet trying to find out where the tornadoes were and
where they were touching down.
This is critically important, and I am sure my experience this
weekend, which is not unique to this weekend, is also an experience by
many of my constituents and others throughout the State of Oklahoma. We
must do all we can to improve our ability to predict the weather.
H.R. 1561 will help NOAA to develop more accurate and timely warnings
for not only tornadoes, but also hurricanes and other high-impact
weather events. It calls on NOAA to develop a plan to regain and
maintain our forecasting capabilities that are second to none in the
world because right now we, unfortunately, are lagging behind our
counterparts in Europe, the U.K., and Canada. The bill encourages
better cooperation across NOAA offices and enhances collaboration with
universities such as the University of Oklahoma,
[[Page H3372]]
which is a national leader in weather research.
Mr. Speaker, I am particularly proud of a new section in this year's
version that we have worked closely with industry, NOAA, and other
Members of Congress to include. H.R. 1561 authorizes a pilot program
for NOAA to purchase commercial space-based weather data and test it
against NOAA's proprietary data. It also calls on NOAA to publish
standards it expects from any purchased data from the commercial
sector.
Mr. Speaker, this has the potential to be a major paradigm shift
provision. This is the first step towards changing the business model.
I believe we need to change the business model, moving to a day where
the government does not purchase, own, and operate huge monolithic
billion-dollar satellites but, rather, utilizes the innovation of the
private sector to provide the data necessary to feed our data
assimilation systems and our numerical weather models.
{time} 1830
This will ultimately allow NOAA to focus its resources on the
research and development necessary to improve our modeling
capabilities, computing capacity, and warning lead times outlined in
this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I believe there will come a time when there will be zero
deaths from tornados. I think this bill will help us implement the
necessary steps to get there.
I, once again, thank my colleagues on the Science Committee for all
their hard work, and I look forward to working with our counterparts in
the Senate to move this legislation to the President's desk.
I encourage all my colleagues to support this bill.
Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my
time
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1561 has received overwhelming
support from the weather enterprise and industry. I would like to
mention letters of support from AccuWeather, The Weather Company,
Science and Technology Corporation, and Carmel Research Center as well.
Mr. Speaker, I will insert in the Record a full list of the 25
letters of support the Science Committee received for this legislation.
Letters of Support for H.R. 1561--The Weather Research and Forecasting
Innovation Act of 2015
Companies
AccuWeather, American Commercial Space Weather Association,
Atmospheric & Space Technology Research Associates, American
Weather and Climate Industry Association, Carmel Research
Center, GeoOptics, Global Weather Corporation, MetraWeather,
Panasonic Avionics Corporation, Planet IQ.
Space Environment Technologies, Spire Global, Science
Technology Corporation, Tempus Global Data, The Weather
Company, University Corporation of Atmospheric Research, Utah
Science Technology and Research Initiative, Utah State
University, Weather Coalition, Weather Decision Technologies.
Individual Members of the Environmental Information Services Working
Group
Walt Dabbert--Vaisala, Philip Ardanuy--Raytheon, Waren
Qualley--Harris, Jean Vieux--Vieux Hydrology, Julie Winkler--
Michigan State University.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no other request for time,
but I just want to thank the three original cosponsors we have on the
floor tonight--Mr. Lucas, Mr. Bridenstine, and Ms. Bonamici--for
sponsoring such an important piece of legislation.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, let me say, again, that this is a good
bill that will improve weather forecasting innovation and services.
The results of the changes contained in this legislation? The public
will be safer because of more timely and more accurate forecasts that
will protect lives and property. We will also be growing our economy
and creating jobs through this bill.
Researchers have found that annual variations in weather can produce
billions of dollars in reduced U.S. gross domestic product. With stakes
that large, we owe it to our Nation to improve weather forecasting.
H.R. 1561 takes intelligent steps to support NOAA and to drive needed
change in how we harness research to forecasting needs.
Again, I want to thank the many leaders in the research community and
the private weather sector who provided advice to the committee as we
worked on this bill. I also want to extend my appreciation to the Under
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Dr. Kathy Sullivan,
for her cooperation and advice.
I will continue working with my colleagues across the aisle and in
the other body until we have a good, final bill. Again, I thank my
cosponsors, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of
H.R. 1561, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge that getting to where we are
today was not easy. This is an update to a bill the House passed two
years ago, and we have spent several months in this Congress
negotiating over how to rework that legislation.
I want to especially recognize the efforts of Environment
Subcommittee Chairman Jim Bridenstine and Ranking Member Suzanne
Bonamici as well as the bill's sponsor, Mr. Lucas. Their leadership and
commitment has really driven this process forward. Today's bill is a
testament to their dedication and represents one very positive step
forward on the long and continuous road to improving the American
weather forecasting system.
America has some of the most diverse and dangerous weather events of
any country. From my home state of Texas, all the way to Maine,
hurricanes and tropical storms annually batter our coasts. Likewise,
the central portions of our country, from Texas to Illinois are the
most tornado prone areas in the entire world.
Unfortunately, all you've had to do over the last few weeks is pick
up a newspaper or turn on the television to see the true impact
tornadoes can have on American families. To help our citizens cope with
these potentially devastating events, we need to have the very best
weather forecasting and warning capabilities.
The National Weather Service and the Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research at NOAA play a central role in protecting the
lives and property of every American.
The bill before us today will help accelerate innovation and the
transition of cutting-edge weather research into essential weather
forecasting tools and products.
The legislation accomplishes this goal by breaking down the barriers
that exist between the weather research community, our nation's
forecasters, and the private-sector weather enterprise. Improving
collaboration and cooperation within NOAA, but also between the agency
and the broader weather community will extend the accuracy and timing
of our weather predictions. Such improvements will ultimately save
lives and make our communities safer.
Mr. Speaker, the weather is a central part of everyday life and
resiliency to severe weather events is an important part of
strengthening the nation's economic security. H.R. 1561 will advance
our weather forecasting capabilities and I urge my colleagues to
support its passage.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
H.R. 1561, ``The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of
2015,'' will greatly improve our severe weather forecasting
capabilities. I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma, Mr. Lucas, the Vice
Chairman of the Science Committee, for introducing this bill.
Severe weather routinely affects large portions of the United States.
This year we already have seen the devastating effects of tornados
across our country, especially in Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas,
Alabama, and Mississippi among other states.
The deaths and the damage from severe weather underscore our need for
a world-class weather prediction system that helps protect American
lives and property.
Unfortunately, our leadership has slipped in severe weather
forecasting. European weather models routinely predict America's
weather better than we do. We need to make up for lost ground.
H.R. 1561 improves weather observation systems and next generation
modeling capabilities.
This bill prioritizes weather research at the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) research agency. This will
improve forecasts and warnings.
It prompts NOAA to actively engage new commercial data and private
sector weather solutions through a corrimercial weather data pilot
project.
The bill requires a cost-benefit analyses for the procurement of
observing system data.
It increases forecast warning lead times for tornadoes and
hurricanes. And it creates a joint technology transfer fund in NOAA's
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to help speed technologies
developed through NOAA's weather research into operation.
[[Page H3373]]
The enhanced prediction of major storms is of great importance to
protecting the public from injury and loss of property.
In addition to Mr. Lucas, I also want to thank the Chairman of the
Environment Subcommittee, the gentleman from Oklahoma, Mr. Bridenstine,
and the Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member, the gentlewoman from
Oregon, Ms. Bonamici, for their sponsorship of this bipartisan bill.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1561, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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